Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the scheme would provide monetary assistance and retraining to these workers to help them get back on their feet.
<p>“The scheme will only help those who are affected when their companies
go bankrupt or are bought over by another company, and where they will not be
entitled to any retrenchment benefit. </p>
<p>“The ministry together with the unions and the employers will now work
out the details. We have set up a committee made up of our officers and two
members each from MTUC and the Malaysian Employers Federation to decide on the
cut-off point of the monetary assistance to be received by these displaced workers
and the types of retraining,” he told reporters after chairing the National
Labour Advisory Council meeting at his office here on Thursday. </p>
<p>Also present at the meeting were representatives from the MEF, Malaysian Agricultural
Producers Association, MTUC, Cuepacs and officers from the Public Service Department
and various ministries. </p>
<p>Both the MEF and MTUC had at a similar meeting last year “agreed in principle”
to the scheme, which would be similar to that of Socso and the Employees Provident
Fund. </p>
<p>However, the federation later said that it was against the setting up of any
retrenchment fund for workers as this meant that “good employers would
be paying for the mistakes made by bad employers.” </p>
<p>Dr Fong said during the meeting, MTUC had also raised the issue that some employers
in the country were now beginning to prefer foreign workers over locals in their
recruitment drive. </p>
<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had in the Umno General Assembly
last week said that local employers were too dependent on foreign workers.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/16/nation/20071116115248&sec=nation</i>
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